Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article II. On Abstinence from Flesh Meat in Fasting
- Principles. - I. By the precept of the Church the eating of flesh meat is forbidden to all the faithful using reason on every single fast day. Hence by the law of fasting a double precept is imposed, as Bened. XIV also defines, namely of abstaining from several meals, and of abstaining from flesh meats; therefore, contrary to what several older authors hold, one dispensed or impotent as to one is not for that reason to be excused from the other. - St. Lig., n. 1005.
But under the name of flesh meat come all animals living and breathing on land, as theologians commonly admit from the rule handed down by St. Thomas; therefore fish, frogs, snails, tortoises, etc., are not prohibited. - St. Lig., n. 1011.
II. In the Lenten time eggs and milk products are also prohibited, namely all those things which draw their origin from flesh. This is established from the practice of the Church, from her dispensations, and from proposition 32 condemned by Alexander VII, which sounds thus: "It is not evident that the custom of not eating eggs and milk products in Lent obliges." Now, nevertheless, in very many places a general dispensation from that law is conceded to the faithful, if a few days are excepted. Indeed in many dioceses Bishops, from a faculty delegated by the Roman Pontiff, concede dispensation also as to the eating of flesh meat for the principal part of Lent.
Moreover, although the eating of eggs and milk products cannot, per se, be excused from grave sin according to the common opinion, nevertheless smallness of matter seems to be more easily admitted in these than in eating flesh meat.
- Questions. - Q. 1. Whether abstinence from milk products must be observed also in fasting outside the Lenten time?
Resp. It is denied. Because an obligation of this sort is imposed by no general law. It is the common opinion, says St. Lig., n. 1009. Yet somewhere, for example at Rome, a custom having the force of law has prevailed, that on certain other days also, for example on Ember Days, abstinence of this sort be observed.
Q. 2. Whether abstinence from milk products must be observed on the Sundays of Lent?
Resp. It is affirmed, because neither law nor custom excepts the Sunday. - St. Lig., n. 1007, and others commonly against some, whose opinion is not probable according to St. Lig., ibid.
- Q. 3. Whether in the time of Lent it is lawful at the meal to eat breads made with eggs?
Resp. It is denied, unless eggs have been permitted; the reason is that their substance is not lost from the fact that it is mixed with flour. - St. Lig., n. 1009, etc.
Q. 4. Whether those dispensed for milk products are considered by that very fact also dispensed for eggs?
Resp. It is affirmed, because these are equated by custom, unless the distinction is clearly expressed in the dispensation.
Q. 5. Whether those dispensed for flesh meats on fast days can also eat fish?
Resp. It is denied, if there is question of eating fish in the same meal. This is established from the Constitution of Bened. XIV, Non ambigimus.